February 27, 1909 21 



Among this fallen timber the aspens are beginning to grow, but 

 it docs not appear probable that the areas will ever again be 

 covered with coniferous timber unless systematically replanted 

 by those in control of the forest. 



Numerous small lakes occur in the region. There is one of 

 some size on the side of Pecos Baldy above timber line at an 

 elevation of perhaps 11800 feet. Another one visited was Spirit 

 Lake upon a shoulder of Santa Fe Baldy. The spruces grew up 

 to the very edge of it, and their reflection in the water gave it a 

 dark, uncanny appearance, which, coupled with the almost op- 

 pressive silence that prevails in the thick spruce timber, sug- 

 gests the reason for the application of this name to the little 

 body of water. About the edge of the lake is a bog, similar to 

 the one on Pecos Baldy. Several of the water grasses were 

 abundant in it, mixed with numerous sedges and rushes. The 

 elk-slip, Ca/i/ia hptosepala, carpeted the ground here and there, 

 while Veratrum, one or two species of Geranium, Rhodiola poly- 

 gama, several Senecios, and Elephantella formed dense clumps 

 of herbage. 



To the northeast of Winsor ranch is Hamilton Mesa, an 

 area about five miles long and a mile wide in places. Its sides 

 are steep and forest covered, its top, which is about 10000 feet 

 above sea level, is a great, grass) - , treeless meadow. Near by are 

 Round Mountain and Grass Mountain of similar appearance but 

 less extensive. Here many herbaceous plants seem to reach 

 their fullest development, and here are found the best grazing 

 lands in the forest. Festuca a r iconic a and one or two other 

 members of this genus, several Poas, one or two Danthonias, and 

 Koeleria cristata were the most abundant grasses. Late in the 

 summer these meadows in places were solid sheets of color. 

 Great fields of purple Campanulas, scarlet Gilia and Pentstemoh y 

 white Latcampvx and Vliclvpodinm, numerous yellow compos- 

 ites, the rose-purple Aragallus Richardsonii^ and dozens of others 

 equally brilliant, formed a riot of color that not even the brush 

 of a master could paint or the pen of a writer describe. Several 

 miles away, looking from Grass Mountain, one could see a whole 

 mountain side that was ablaze with Dugaldea. Higher up on 



